CHAPTER 321: CHAPTER 321: THREE QUESTIONS AND A THREAT

"Lugh, this is not a game. You could lose your life."

Lugh replied to the statement with two simple words.

"I’m aware."

"Are you?"

Surprisingly, the one who unexpectedly cut into the conversation was the priestess—Xhi.

Lugh remained silent for a short while, her words serving as a sharp reminder that Selaphiel wasn’t the only one who needed him alive.

The elf in question seemed to notice this strange and sudden shift in ambience, prompting her to turn directly to Xhi.

"I’m sorry, but how does this relate to you?"

Her tone was clipped and controlled. Then she frowned, adding pointedly,

"Who even are you?"

The atmosphere, which had just begun to cool, grew tense once more. Lugh watched curiously as the dynamic shifted.

Lyra appeared more panicked than nervous, and Sela... Sela was at a complete loss.

Xhi smiled. Then she responded, her voice soft, yet cold at the same time.

"You’re not qualified to know that."

"Not qualified, huh..."

Selaphiel’s voice dropped, low and dangerous.

She turned to Lugh, her narrowed eyes putting him directly on the spot.

The other elves present chose to watch silently.

Lugh meanwhile, fought the urge to splay his fingers in mild exasperation.

’What? Even I don’t know exactly who or what she is.’

He grumbled internally.

The most important part of it all was that he wasn’t even sure what he could and couldn’t reveal.

Just because the priestess apparently needed him alive didn’t mean she couldn’t find ways to make him suffer if he broke his deal.

And Lugh wasn’t particularly keen on discovering what those ways might be.

So he remained silent.

The two women locked eyes.

But the situation was clearly not in Xhi’s favor. Of the Von Heim family present, there were three elves.

Zhou would make it four, though she wasn’t of the Von heim family, neither was she currently supporting either side.

Xhi’s origins were naturally suspect, and though no one had asked directly, everyone here regarded her with vague distrust.

The odds were stacked against the priestess.

They all knew this.

And yet... why was it that when they looked at her, they couldn’t feel it?

Her posture was relaxed, her expression carefree. Her smile easygoing, as if nothing had happened at all. Like the walls weren’t inching in on her from every side.

Seeing that the tension was spiraling, Lyra stepped in, attempting to steer the situation away from chaos. She spoke, voice almost rushed.

"Ugh, you really don’t have to worry about her. Xhi is from... from..."

"From where?"

Selaphiel asked, her patience thinning.

"From..."

Lyra faltered. Naturally. She couldn’t just divulge information about that place without permission. There would be serious consequences otherwise.

Luckily for her, someone bailed her out.

It was Xhi herself.

The priestess tilted her head slightly, her tone still casual.

"Why don’t we make a deal?"

’Oh no. Not again’

Lugh felt a pit settle in his stomach.

"I answer three of your questions,"

Xhi continued,

"And you answer three of mine."

Selaphiel was unyielding.

"How about I just force the answers out of you?"

A brief silence followed. Then Xhi replied, tone soft but laced with steel.

"You’re welcome to try."

The air crackled.

Then—

"You have to answer mine first."

"We’ll alternate."

"Alright."

An agreement was quickly reached. If it could be said that predators could recognize one another, then this was the clearest example. Two forces, locked in poise, circling.

Selaphiel asked the first question.

"Where are you from?"

Her tone was direct.

"The Devil Sea,"

Xhi answered simply.

A beat.

Startled expressions bloomed on every face.

The elves and Selaphiel were stunned at the sheer audacity—no, the incredulity of the answer.

Lugh and Lyra, meanwhile, were shocked for a different reason. They hadn’t expected her to answer at all—let alone so directly.

"T-the devil sea?! Wh—"

But before they could finish, Xhi spoke again, cutting cleanly through the tension.

"Is the Von Heim family ^@@#%##^:#&?"

Lugh’s head snapped toward her.

What was that?

What did she just say?

He turned to Sela, to Lyra, even to Zhou, hoping for clarity. But they all had the same confused expressions he did.

Then he turned to the elves—Seraphina, Siegfried, and Selaphiel—and realized.

Sound magic.

Whatever had just been said, was intentionally distorted. They didn’t want anyone to hear it.

And it was something. Something sharp and dangerous enough, to freeze the very air.

The elves’ expressions didn’t just turn grim—they hardened.

The strange and lazy Seraphina looked like an entirely different person now, her eyes narrowed, her lips drawn into a tight, unreadable line.

The air was charged—no longer with tension, but with naked hostility.

Siegfried spoke first, his voice cold.

"Who... exactly are you?"

Xhi smiled faintly, her reply immediate.

"Is that your second question?"

They hesitated. Then turned subtly to glance at the others—Lugh, Lyra, Zhou. Finally, Selaphiel decided.

"No. It’s not. We’ll have this discussion later, in a more... private area."

Now Lugh was really curious. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t get the chance to satisfy it.

Because in the next moment, Siegfried, who had finally remembered the main issue at hand, spoke, as if in a desperate bid to draw away their attention from what just happened.

"It’s okay for you to attempt passing the selection without using magic."

Lugh raised an eyebrow.

"It is not, however, okay for you to tarnish the name of the Von Heims when you fail."

Okay?

Seeing Lugh completely unresponsive, Siegfried grew irritated. He turned to Selaphiel, spitting out the words.

"We can’t let this—this weak and arrogant child represent the family in the selection."

She looked at him like he was an idiot.

"Then who can we let? You think there’s any of them more capable than him?"

Although she didn’t support Lugh’s naive plan, she was more inclined toward guiding him subtly—letting him realize the folly of it himself.

In her mind, once he experienced the consequences, he would naturally abandon the idea.

That said, she wasn’t foolish enough to dismiss his abilities outright.

That would be unwise.

But for some reason, Siegfried didn’t share her view.

"There are others more capable than him. The members of the third branch are just one example."

Lugh watched silently.

Come to think of it, Siegfried hadn’t actually seen him use magic—at least not extensively.

All the information he had came from secondhand sources. And if centuries of life taught anyone anything, it was to never fully trust such reports.

Lugh concluded that Siegfried was underestimating him because he didn’t know his limits.

But then Lugh remembered—their auras had clashed, hadn’t they?

He chose to wait and observe.

Siegfried continued.

"Given that our family produces many young talents, and only five are usually allowed to participate in the selection, it won’t be fair to just give someone a slot based on favoritism."

Favoritism?

What’s your game here,

Lugh thought silently—just as Sela, his older sister, spoke up.

"Actually, it’s ten."

Siegfried paused.

He turned to her. She flinched slightly under his gaze.

"What did you say?"

She inhaled, steadying herself.

"Ten participants are allowed from each family or organization this time around, instead of the usual five."

Another pause.

"Why?"

She replied calmly.

"Because the selection didn’t take place last time. As such, the age bracket has been increased to twenty-five, and the maximum number of participants increased to ten."

Siegfried shot her another hard stare. Then he said:

"It doesn’t change anything. If anything, it further proves my point."

Everyone frowned.

This man really liked forcing logic.

"Who knows how many talents missed their chance last time?"

Siegfried pressed on.

"With so many candidates, it’s unreasonable for someone to be handed a slot just lik—"

Selaphiel had grown tired. She cut him off directly.

"Just say what you really want to say."

Siegfried cleared his throat, shifting his posture slightly.

"What I’m saying is—anyone who wants to attempt the selection must first prove themselves by defeating their peers. There are limited slots, and only the best of the young generation should be allowed to fill them."

Selaphiel pursed her lips.

"Are you proposing a tournament?"

"Call it whatever you want. You can’t deny it’s absolutely necessary."

Lugh nodded slightly to himself.

He finally understood.

It wasn’t that Siegfried underestimated him.

It was the opposite.

They wanted to see what he was truly capable of. They wanted to see his magic.

Now the question was—what should he do?

Just then, Xhi’s brows furrowed slightly as she lifted her head. A split second later, the elves did the same.

Lugh tried to sense it, but came up blank.

"What ar—"

He stopped himself.

Because in that exact moment, powerful magical signatures flared up all around them like a sudden storm. Blazing bright and without subtlety.

They weren’t friendly.

Lugh tensed.

What kind of confidence... would anyone need to storm the Von Heim manor head on?

Selaphiel shifted her posture. Her gaze sharpened.

"We have visitors,"

She said.

"It’d be rude not to say hi."